that power of the bards on whom tongues of fire had descended, who
were masters of the magic of utterance, whose thoughts were not
meant to be silently absorbed from the lifeless page. For there
never can be, while man lives in a body, a greater means of
expression for him than the voice of man affords, and no instrument
of music will ever rival in power the flowing of the music of the
spheres through his lips. In all its tones, from the chanting of
the magi which compelled the elements, to those gentle voices which
guide the dying into peace, there is a power which will never be
stricken from tympan or harp, for in all speech there is life, and
with the greatest speech the deep tones of another Voice may mingle.
Has not the Lord spoken through His prophets? And man, when he has
returned to himself, and to the knowledge of himself, may find a
greater power in his voice than those which he has painfully harnessed
to perform his will, in steamship or railway. It is through drama
alone that the writer can summon, even if vicariously, so great a
power to his aid; and it is possible we yet may hear on the stage,
not merely the mimicry of human speech, but the old forgotten music
which was heard in the duns of great warriors to bow low their faces
in their hands. Dear O'Grady, if we do not succeed it is not for
you to blame us, for our aims are at least as high as your own.

1902





THE CHARACTER OF HEROIC LITERATURE